Cast members of "Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story" on opening night.WireImage

The newest jukebox musical celebrates the life and work of — Bert Berns?

Yes. The loving “Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story” tells the tale of the little-known songwriter/producer responsible for such ’60s classics as “Twist and Shout,” “Hang on Sloopy” and the Janis Joplin hit that gives the show its name.

Berns, who suffered rheumatic fever as a teen, had a bad heart and died at 38 in 1967.

But while the show succeeds in bringing this obscure figure to light, it fails to conjure the magic of, say, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” Book writer Daniel Goldfarb’s mostly unsuccessful attempts at drama begin with Berns’ singer/songwriter daughter Jessie (Leslie Kritzer, playing a composite of his children Brett and Cassandra, who produced the show) being mysteriously summoned to New York by the shady Wazzel (Joseph Siravo), Berns’ former manager.

Through flashbacks, we learn of Berns’ (Zak Resnick) time in Cuba, where he learned Latin rhythms; his deflowering by the sexy Candace (De’Adre Aziza) — cue “I Want Candy”; and his courtship of his wife Ilene, whose younger and older versions are played by Teal Wicks and Linda Hart.

More would-be drama stems from Berns’ conflicts with music industry figures.

Director/choreographer Denis Jones’ energetic staging fails to overcome the narrative deficiencies. And among the performers, the standout is Hart, who delivers a showstopper with “I’ll Be a Liar.”